Summer Reading Recommendations About People Living With MS

Life with multiple sclerosis (MS) is highly unpredictable and often very isolating. Being able to connect with others who have been living with symptoms similar to our own can be a very liberating experience. Since the summer’s oppressive heat can leave us with the strength of a rag doll, now is a great time to unwind with a great book while trying to stay cool.

Suzanne Robins spent her career as a journalist prior to complications from MS forcing her to leave the workforce. Robins uses her training to write introspectively about her struggles with MS. In fact, her ability to illustrate her life story from the viewpoint of a third-party observer allows the reader to come along for the journey and see it all. She hides nothing and allows us to see the true struggles, including severe depression, of life with MS.

Her focus is on the invisible symptoms of MS. These are the least understood and the most overlooked by the general public. Detailed are the challenges from depression with anxiety, bladder dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and disabling fatigue. Robins also interweaves both factual and practical information throughout her narrative.

Richard M. Cohen is an accomplished author and former television news producer who has been living with MS since early adulthood. Cohen capitalizes on his journalistic talents by embarking on a several years long project following the lives of five people affected by living with serious chronic illness. We are taken on an unfettered journey into the very private thoughts of individuals affected by diverse symptoms.

The impacts of chronic illness shape their daily lives and those of their families. The challenges may vary, but the life-affirming manner in which they conduct their lives is incredibly similar. I found this book especially rewarding because Cohen often uses his own life with MS as a benchmark for comparison. He advocates for those living with MS and other chronic illnesses.

Carmen Ambrosio was born and raised in the U.S. Virgin Islands, prior to moving to the U.S. Midwest to attend college. Ambrosio’s book is full of optimism and original humor. She repeatedly overcomes difficulties by staying positive.

The descriptions of how her daily life is affected by MS are highly illustrative. Walking difficulties are discussed as the arrival of “duct tape days,” when her stiff gait has her imitating Frankenstein. Ambrosio has a unique ability to illuminate the importance of listening to our own body, utilizing a method of observation called “bod-mail.” She demonstrates the use of an e-mail system of communication between the brain and the body’s various subsystems. By checking her imaginary inbox each morning, she learns the various demands that her body makes and responds accordingly. It’s both humorous and helpful, illustrating how not to ignore small problems before they turn into much larger ones.

Enjoy Your Summer With Reading

Daily life with MS often can be challenging. Being able to see the struggles and triumphs of others living with MS can help us see past the frustration of the moment. I hope you find these books beneficial.

Please share in Comments any books you find helpful for those living with MS or other chronic illnesses.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brad and Robynn Mann

Brad and Robynn Mann are long time residents of NJ. Brad grew up in Long Island NY but moved to the Garden State to be closer to Robynn. They have been married over 18 years and they have 4 amazing children,...read more

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